Item Database:Ships:Destroyers

Destroyers are ships that are larger than frigates, and have more high slots, which means that they can mount more weapons in order to chew through L1 missions faster than frigates. The high slots are also often used to fit Salvagers and tractor beams for cleaning up after running missions.

They also have a larger signature than frigates, and therefore take more damage from larger ships than frigates would. For L1 missions this shouldn't be a problem, since there aren't many larger ships.

Destroyers all specialize in direct damage weapons (such as blasters) rather than missiles.

The Role of the Destroyer

Much virtual ink has been spilled over the worth of Destroyers over skipping straight to cruisers. The destroyer's design goal of "frigate destroyer" never really surfaced. Its bigger and slower than a frigate, so its easier to hit, but doesn't have the slots or capacitor to tank damage like a cruiser.

Though it is not recommended that you train more than a few ranks in destroyer skill (unless its a prereq for something else), it does have its uses. Here are some roles the destroyer fills.

Looting and Salvage

With their many high slots, low cost and good speed destroyers make excellent boats for looting and salvage. Fitted with a pair of tractor beams and as many salvagers as you can cram on a destroyer can slurp up wrecks.

At this point in EVE many consider this to be a destroyer's primary function.

Level 1 Combat Missions

Mounted with many small weapons, a destroyer will make mincemeat of the frigates in level 1 combat missions whether you're starting a new character or just grinding for standing. The cost is low enough that a rookie can afford one after doing the tutorial agent missions rather than saving and skilling up for a cruiser.

Rookie Training Ship

This role is more subtle. As a rookie playing EVE there is a lot to learn about combat. In a frigate you're small and fast enough that clicking orbit and firing your guns is enough. And there's not much to worry about fitting on a frigate. Weapons, afterburner and a repair module. You will lose ships, that's part of the learning process and frigates are cheap.

Cruisers are a big change from frigates. They're bigger and slower, they'll get hit a lot more. They have more slots, more ways to be fit, more modules to worry about in battle. They can fit bigger guns which can be a painful lesson in how tracking and signature resolution work. They don't rely on simple speed and small size to survive, you have to learn how to tank. A rookie, eager to get a bigger ship, will often spend all their money on a new cruiser... only to have it blown out from under them because they're still learning how to fly. An expensive lesson.

A destroyer makes this learning curve less expensive. It introduces a lot of the same ship fitting and combat issues as a cruiser, but at a lower price tag. On the assumption that you're going to lose a few ships early on its better to lose a 750k ISK ship than 4 million ISK ship. The tutorial missions and first epic arc leave you with money to buy, fit, insure and lose a bunch of destroyers. Losing a cruiser might leave you with an empty wallet and back flying frigates. And the opportunities for a rookie to make money after the first epic arc plummet.

On the other hand, because a destroyer's survivability is so poor you're less likely to lose a cruiser than a destroyer.